Bowling aid glove

ABSTRACT

A bowling aid glove comprising individual finger stalls for the two middle fingers, an elastic snug-fitting wrist brace, and complemental oriented straps connecting the finger stalls with the wrist brace and comfortably harnessing the finger stalls in place. Each finger stall is equipped on the interior palmar side with a built-in firm but compressibly resilient pad. These pads are interposed between the fingers and coordinating surface of the ball and function as ball handling lifts. These lifts allow the overall hand to conformingly contour itself to the shape of the ball with the result that an improved grip permits controllable and releasable dexterity of action to be achieved.

United States Patent 191 Ingold .Nov. 6, 1973 l l BOWLING AID GLOVE [76] Inventor: Torrence D. lngold, PO; Box 182, Primary ExaminerflAmon Oechsle Albany, Ga 31702 Att0rney-Harvey B. Jacobson [22] Filed. Nov. 2, 1971 ABSTRACT [2H App]. 194339 A bowling aid glove comprising individual finger stalls for the two middle fingers, an elastic snug-fitting wrist {52] 11.8. Cl. 273/54 B, 2/161 A brace, and complemental oriented straps connecting [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/14 the finger stalls with the wrist brace and comfortably [58] Field of Search 273/54 B, 189 R, harnessing the finger stalls in place. Each finger stall is 273/189 A; 2/161 A equipped on the interior palmar side with a built-in firm but compressibly resilient pad. These pads are inter- [56] References Cited posed between the fingers and coordinating surface of UNITED STATES PATENTS the ball and function as ball handling lifts. These lifts 3,261,026 7/1966 Joseph 273/54 B ux allow the Overall handlto conforminglycomou' Self 3,398,951 8/1968 Disko 273/54 B the Shape of with the result that P Y 3 224912 12 19 5 Hamm 273/54 B X 'grip permits controllable and releasable dexterity of ac- 2,858,542 ll/l958 Ogg 1 2/16] A tiOn t0 be achieved. 3,098,654 7/1963 Larsen 273/54 B 3,362,027 1/1968 Petrov 273/54 B UX 1 Claim 7 Drawing 1 BOWLING AID GLOVE Persons conversant with special purpose gloves are doubtless aware that many and varied styles and types of gloves have been devised and offered for use by bowlers, particularly adaptations which leave the fingers of the bowling hand free for partly restrained but freely manipulative use. I

For general background information, gloves which have been devised to promote optimum positioning of the bowling ball, at least two prior reference patents can be evaluated, namely, Sidney Lutsky US. Pat. No. 2,949,610 and Roy Compiano, US. Pat. No. 3,031,680.

An object of the invention is to structurally and functionally improve upon the above identified reference patents and others, not herein listed, and, in so doing, to advance the art and provide an adaptation which, it is submitted, better and well serves the purposes for which it has been devised, perfected and satisfactorily used.

Briefly, the herein revealed glove comprises a pair of side-by-side open-ended companion finger stalls which are designed and structurally adapted to conformingly accommodate suitable but minimal portions of the two middle fingers of the bowling hand. Secondly, a snugfitting wrist brace is provided and yieldingly encompasses the wrist to function not only as a brace but a supporter and wrist strengthening stabilizer. A first strap, identified as a palmar strap, has a forward end joined with and which partly unites the rearward ends of the two finger stalls and, in addition, has a rearward end which is joined with the forward edge portion of the wrist brace. A second strap, herein set forth as a back-of-the-hand strap complements and is oriented with the palmar strap and it too has a forward end joined with the rearward ends of the finger stalls and its rearward end joined with a coacting forward edge portion of the wrist brace. These paired straps serve to link the finger stalls in a manner to minimize the likelihood of displacement when being used.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on providing each finger stall with, a built-in compressibly resilient pad. This pad is firm, commensurate in length with the length of the associated finger stall and is restricted to the locale which orients itself with the palmar part of the human finger whereby it is thus interposed between the finger and the ball, more particularly, in a manner to allow the bowling hand and span of the hand to conform with requisite nicety to the convex peripheral surface of the ball proximal to the fingerholes in the ball.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,- wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout,

and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing a typical bowling hand and, more particularly, the bowling aid glove constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and applied and observing the face or palm side of the hand.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to and based on FIG. 1 and which may be either a top plan or an elevational view and which shows the features which cooperate with the top or back of the hand, particularly the aforementioned back-of-the-hand connecting strap.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the glove by itself and with the separable and connectible end portions of the wrist brace separated.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of a bowling ball and, more particularly, the bowling hand in place and further showing how at least one of the lifttype pads coordinates with the surface of the ball.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary palmar side view based on FIG. 1 for example and with a portion of each of the I finger stalls broken away to show the compressibly resilient pad.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

And FIG. 7 is a view at right angles thereto and on an enlarged scale and taken on the plane of the section line 77 of FIG. 5.

With reference first to FIG. 3, and, broadly stated,-

the numeral 10 designates finger stall means, 12 designates wrist-embracing means and 14 the intervening connecting means between the component means 10 and 12 respectively.

The paired companion finger stalls, exceptfor dimension and length, are basically the same in construction and are fittingly applicable to the middle fingers l6 and 18 and are both designated by the numeral 20. These stalls are made of appropriate leather and the forward or terminal end portion of each stall is provided with a suitably folded and stitched hem which constitutes a reinforcing bead, each bead being denoted by the numeral 22 (FIG. 6). The interior palmar portion of each finger stall has a built-in suitably attached compressibly resilient pad or cushion. Here again each cushion is basically the same and is denoted by the numeral 24. In practice, firm sponge rubber or equivalent compressibly resilient cushioning material may serve as a desired pad. These pads are suitably stitched in place as denoted at 25 in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each pad is of a length commensurate with the length of the finger stall in which it is sheathed. The pad can be of' the slightly convexed contour shown with rounded ends, as brought out more particularly in FIG. 6. Because of the manner in which each pad accomplishes its function, it is designated as a lift. It follows that each finger or stall of the glove is unique in that the inner palm side is equipped with the desired ballhandling 1m.

With reference at this time to the wrist-encircling band, this is referred to as a wrist brace as before stated and is characterized by a length of elastic webbing or material of requisite elasticity, the band portion being denoted at 26. It is desirable that the band, which is also sometimes referred to as a cuff, be such that it can be readily applied and removed. Thus the end portions are separated and one end portion is provided with a folded edging of leather or equivalent material as at 28, the same being provided with female type snap fasteners 30 engageable with appropriate male type snap fasteners 32 carried by coacting portions of the wider but also folded leather edging and reinforcing end member 34.

It is desirable and in fact necessary for satisfactory results to interconnect the rearward end portions 36 (FIG. 1) to the wrist brace 12. For best results, a relatively narrow, suitably elongated, leather connecting strap is provided at 38 and is differentiated as a palmar strap and it has one end portion, the forward end portion, connected with the ends 36 of the finger stalls and its other rearward end portion 40 connected with a coacting marginal edge portion 42 of the wrist brace 12. The opposed back-of-the-hand strap performs a similar function and is denoted by the numeral 44 and as shown in FIG. 2 it is likewise connected at its forward end 46 to rearward end portions of the finger stalls and is connected at its opposite rearward end 48 with a coacting marginal edge portion 50 of the wrist brace. The numeral 52 designates one of the two triangulate gussets or webs which are provided at the narrower end of the strap 44 and which reinforce the connection between the component parts. The marginal edge portions may be provided with weltlike beads 54, these being shown with particularity in FIG. 3. Thus, the rearward end portions of the respective straps 38 and 44 are connected with diametrically opposite edge portions of the wrist brace with the result that when the glove is custom made, as it must be for good results, it ensures proper positioning of the padded finger stalls and maintenance by the snug-fitting but elastic wrist brace 12. It will also be noted that since these straps are relatively narrow, they expose major portions of the hands as is evident from both FIGS. 1 and 2 (see also FIG. 4) with the result that the hand is not completely covered as with certain prior art gloves. In fact, these major portions of the hand are free and are not subject to sweating or undue shackling.

With further respect to the wrist brace, experience has shown that the webbing can be snug-fitting nylon elastic and the terminal end portions can be so edged or constructed as to accommodate either snap fasteners or other equivalent quick-connectible fasteners (not shown).

The inner palm side of each finger stall embodies, as stated, a suitably small but firm pad of sponge rubber or similar material which provides a highly satisfactory lift. When the glove is on the hand, the self-contained lifts are positioned between the second joints of the middle fingers and the point which may be said to be at the base of the fingers, that is at the juncture of the fingers and palm.

It is submitted that a glove constructed as herein shown and described well serves the purposes for which it has been devised and perfected. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the an, it is not desired to limit the invention to to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bowling aid glove comprising, in combination, a pair of side-by-side open ended complemental finger stalls expressly designed and structurally adapted to be conformingly worn on the two middle fingers of the bowling hand, said finger stalls being independent of each other throughout their length to enable unrestricted relative movement of the two middle fingers, said finger stalls having outer free ends adapted to be positioned generally in alignment with the middle joint in each middle finger to permit unrestricted insertion of the middle fingers into the holes in a bowling ball, a snug-fitting but adjustable wrist encompassing brace, a palmar strap having a forward end joined with and uniting the rearward ends of said finger stalls and a rearward end joined with a forward marginal'edge portion of said wrist brace, and a back-of-the-hand strap complemental to and oriented in alignment with said palmar strap and likewise having a forward end joined with and assisting in uniting the rearward ends of said finger stalls and a rearward end joined with a coacting forward edge portion of said wrist brace, said straps being opposed to each other and serving to link said finger stalls and wrist brace together and retaining said finger stalls against displacement when in functioning position on said middle fingers, said finger stalls each being interiorly provided with a complemental built-in compressibly resilient pad, said pads being firm, commensurate in length with the length of the associated finger stall, being restricted to the locale which orient themselves with the palmar part of the human fingers only to constitute cushioning lifts for the middle two fingers and being interposed between said fingers and ball when in use in a manner to allow the bowling hand and the span thereof to conform with and engage the convex peripheral surface of the ball proximal to the finger holes in the ball, whereby to achieve a firm grip on the ball. 

1. A bowling aid glove comprising, in combination, a pair of side-by-side open ended complemental finger stalls expressly designed and structurally adapted to be conformingly worn on the two middle fingers of the bowling hand, said finger stalls being independent of each other throughout their length to enable unrestricted relative movement of the two middle fingers, said finger stalls having outer free ends adapted to be positioned generally in alignment with the middle joint in each middle finger to permit unrestricted insertion of the middle fingers into the holes in a bowling ball, a snug-fitting but adjustable wrist encompassing brace, a palmar strap having a forward end joined with and uniting the rearward ends of said finger stalls and a rearward end joined with a forward marginal edge portion of said wrIst brace, and a back-of-the-hand strap complemental to and oriented in alignment with said palmar strap and likewise having a forward end joined with and assisting in uniting the rearward ends of said finger stalls and a rearward end joined with a coacting forward edge portion of said wrist brace, said straps being opposed to each other and serving to link said finger stalls and wrist brace together and retaining said finger stalls against displacement when in functioning position on said middle fingers, said finger stalls each being interiorly provided with a complemental built-in compressibly resilient pad, said pads being firm, commensurate in length with the length of the associated finger stall, being restricted to the locale which orient themselves with the palmar part of the human fingers only to constitute cushioning lifts for the middle two fingers and being interposed between said fingers and ball when in use in a manner to allow the bowling hand and the span thereof to conform with and engage the convex peripheral surface of the ball proximal to the finger holes in the ball, whereby to achieve a firm grip on the ball. 